Trends and Prevalence of Hospital Admissions Related to Deliberate Self-Poisoning and Used Substances in Romanian Adolescents between 2016 and 2022

Bibliographic Data

ID15717616
AuthorsElena Predescu (0000-0001-5682-1850, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy), Iulia Calugar (0009-0001-9812-3273, Clinical Emergency Hospital Bucharest), Cristian Bibu-Monus (Spitalul Clinic Județean de Urgență Cluj-Napoca), Roxana Șipoș (0000-0001-5017-6387, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume10
Issue5
Pages790-790
Publication date2023-04-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueChildren (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2227-9067 • E-ISSN: 2227-9067
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/children10050790
PMID37238338
OpenAlexW4367298904
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited47

Rates of self-poisoning are increasing substantially all around the world, with self-poisoning being the most common form of self-harm leading to hospitalization in children and adolescents. This study aims to investigate the trends in the number of deliberate self-poisoning admissions in Romanian adolescents during the period of 2016-2022, as well as the most frequently used substances and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital admissions due to self-poisoning and substance use in relation to these episodes. The sample included 178 patients admitted to the Clinic of Pediatric Psychiatry in Cluj-Napoca from 2016 to 2022 due to an episode of self-poisoning. Data were collected on patients' sociodemographic characteristics, psychosocial characteristics, and medical histories. We report a slight overall increase in the self-poisoning admission rate during the studied period. There was a decrease during the initial period of the pandemic, with significantly increasing rates in the second year of the pandemic. The mean prevalence rate of hospital admissions due to self-poisoning episodes during the study period was 3.14% (95% CI 2.72, 3.63). Adolescent girls were identified as the most vulnerable group, with the female-to-male ratio increasing dramatically. In terms of substance use, benzodiazepines; over-the-counter analgesics, including paracetamol; and antidepressants were the most frequently used substances. We emphasize the importance of careful consideration in prescribing psychotropic drugs, as well as the need for regulation of over-the-counter drug dispensation

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Disease · Injury prevention · Pandemic · Poison control · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Self poisoning · Medicine · Poisoning and overdose treatments · Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies · Emergency Medicine · Internal Medicine · Pediatrics